Ready for 2024? We are here to help!

We are so grateful for your support as we celebrate 24 years of business with our owner, Renee Schofield. Over that time, we’ve worked with so many of you, in so many different industries, to keep your employees safe.

As a small business, we say THANK YOU for your support. Keeping people safe is a big job and it takes every one of us to make it happen. We are grateful that we can be a partner with you in doing so. 

To further be of service to you through the next year, please bring your attention to the following:

• A new year means a new enrollment. The 2024 (!) enrollment package with the new price list was emailed in late November. It included a sample of the STANDING ORDER which is required for federal compliance starting in 2024. 
• EVERY employer will need to make changes to their policy regarding ORAL FLUID. You also will need to attach the STANDING ORDER to your enrollment, see above. 
• TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT DOT ORAL FLUID testing will mean for your business – Sign up for our live webinar on December 12th, 2023, at 10 a.m., Alaska time. Send an email to ginny@tss-safety.com to sign up.  
• Changes for 2024. As always, we make every effort to keep our rates in line with the previous year, but you will notice some slight changes to pricing for the new year. We have also made a change in TSS policy regarding employee list upkeep: If an employee is terminated by the company, the company must notify TSS immediately. If a terminated employee is chosen for random testing and was terminated without notification before randoms were pulled or was chosen for testing (and then terminated), a $30.00 fee per employee chosen will be incurred. As you know, when we don’t have accurate and updated employee lists from our clients, it puts every employer who is part of the random pool at risk for non-compliance, which can end up being a costly problem.
• Enrollment is due by December 31, 2023, for lower pricing. Please make sure to make any updates in contact information and use this time to also send an updated list.

If you have any questions, please contact us. We stand ready to keep you in compliance with local, state, and federal laws. With so many changes, it is important that we get this right.

Thank you again for being such awesome people to work with. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season. 

Best regards,

Ginny Clay

Operations Manager, TSS

Avoid Becoming a Holiday Statistic on the Roads

The winter holiday season is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, filled with merriment and festivity. But it is also the most dangerous season on the roads, as more people are driving, drinking socially and choosing to get behind the wheel when they are impaired.

According to Drivers Ed, 25% of adults report drinking more during the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. This period sees an estimated 25,000 injuries from alcohol-related crashes each year and 40% of highway deaths are alcohol-related, according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2019, 390 people lost their lives in alcohol-related crashes during this period.

All too often, drivers don’t recognize when they are impaired and overestimate their ability to drive under the influence.

The best way to avoid becoming a holiday statistic is to NEVER DRINK OR USE DRUGS AND DRIVE. PERIOD.

Unfortunately, the roads are especially dangerous during the holiday season, even if you are not drinking and driving. So, we recommend that you take some basic precautions to avoid becoming the victim of a drunk driving accident:

10 Tips for Working in Frigid Temperatures

In most parts of the country the cold winter weather has arrived, and with it come numerous health and safety hazards that aren’t always visible to the naked eye.

Cold stress, which occurs when the skin and body temperature is driven down to the point where the body is unable to warm itself, can be especially dangerous for those of us who work in frigid temperatures. For employees working in indoor freezers or outdoors, exposure over a long period of time can lead to frostbite, hypothermia, and even death.

With that said, here are some tips for preventing cold-related injury, illness, and stress:

1. Be aware of signs and symptoms — Hypothermia signs include cool skin, slowed or irregular breathing, slower heartbeat, weak pulse, uncontrollable shivering, severe shaking, rigid muscles, drowsiness, exhaustion, slurred speech, and memory lapse.

U.S. Substance Use Problems Continue to Grow

According to the latest statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), problems with substance use and addiction continue to grow in the United States.

The new data, based on responses to SAMHSA’s annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, found that in 2002 nearly 49 million people in the U.S. ages 12 and older – more than one in six – reported a substance use disorder and 25% of people in this age group reported using illicit substances. That’s an increase of approximately 15% from 2021.

What does the data tell us?

It tells us that many Americans who are using substances or are struggling with a substance use disorder are going to work every day. It also suggests that some of these individuals are likely using on the job and are impaired at work, putting workplace safety at risk for everyone.

Coaching Corner: Make Emotional Support and Self-Care Priorities Over the Holidays

By Renee Schofield, NO SPEED LIMIT

As a certified health and wellness coach, I am always gathering resources to help people live their best life.



The holidays can be a difficult time for many people. Loneliness, financial hardship, and many other factors can contribute to added stress. If you feel depressed, anxious, angry or hopeless, it is important to know that: 

1. You are not alone. Don't feel embarrassed or ashamed if you are emotionally overwhelmed, in crisis or you are having suicidal thoughts. Millions of Americans are experiencing the same struggles and need support. 
2. Help is available. The most important first step you can take is to reach out and talk to someone. 
3. 988 is the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Anyone can call, text or chat that number to reach a trained counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It provides a direct line to people who offer compassionate, professional care during times of struggle. All calls are confidential and free. 
4. Talking to someone about your thoughts and feelings can get you through a crisis, give you hope, and potentially save your life.